-
1NT opening bid
Suitable hands
“1NT is a limit bid because it shows a precise point count range”
Notrump opening bids show a
balanced hand
and can be made with a weak
five-card major
suit or a
five-card minor
suit.To open 1NT if possible you should try to ensure that you can control all your suits by having an
honor card
in each. You should also have an honor card of Queen or higher in all of the suits and your hand should not contain a void, a singleton or a worthless doubleton.
Distribution of your hand can be in either of the three following patterns
5, 3, 3, 2
or
4, 3, 3, 3
or
4, 4, 3, 2
If your cards are in either of these three patterns your hand is called "balanced" or "flat"
Distribution of your hand can be in either of the three following patterns
5, 3, 3, 2
or
4, 3, 3, 3
or
4, 4, 3, 2
If your cards are in either of these three patterns your hand is called "balanced" or "flat"
Opening with a 1NT Bid
· 12-14 HCP · Your hand may contain a 5 card minor suit |
*Note
A doubleton when in a NoTrump contract should contain an honor card with the rank of Queen or higher. If the doubleton has two cards neither of which is a Q or higher then it is referred to as a "worthless doubleton" because effectively there are no stoppers in that suit
Exercise: With the hand below, what would you open the bidding?
Boost your Bridge skills with exclusive access to 60SecondBridge member only content
LOGIN or REGISTER to view this FULL LESSON + PLAY THE PRACTICE HAND +
- Access hundreds of Beginner and Intermediate lessons
- Rapidly Increase your Bridge skills with practice hands for most lessons
- Test and revise your Bridge knowledge with interactive Bridge quizzes
- Practice your Bridge skills with Bridge games and activities
- Compete on the beginners Bridge competition ladder
Your Hand
- ♠ K 9
- ♥ A 7 5
- ♦ K 10 8 7
- ♣ A 7 6 3
Answer: Open 1NT with this hand, you have no Major suit a balanced hand and and 14 HCP
Practice Game for this lesson (with full commentary)
Practice UNLIMITED 'Opening 1NT' hands on your computer here (without commentary)
When you have finished this game, progress to subsequent games on the same lesson by selecting "Next" on the blue menu above the Game Screen
When you have finished this game, progress to subsequent games on the same lesson by selecting "Next" on the blue menu above the Game Screen